West Virginia Code § 7-11-5

General powers of commission; rules; misdemeanor offenses; park police
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authorized.
The commission shall have the necessary powers and authority to manage and control all
public parks and recreational properties and facilities owned by the county or commission
and used as a part of such public parks and recreation system, including the right to
promulgate rules and regulations concerning the management and control oef such parks and
recreational properties and facilities and to enforce any such rules and regulations so
promulgated: Provided, That a commission shall not promulgate or enforrce rules which
prohibit the possession of firearms in such parks.
The commission shall also have plenary power and authority to prepare and submit to the
county commission for adoption rules regulating the use of atny parks and recreational
properties and facilities under the control of the commission and prohibiting any type of use
of or activities in connection with any such properties or facilities, and any such rules, and
regulations if so adopted, shall be duly entered of record in the order book of the county
commission. The violation of any such rule and regulation so adopted by the county
commission shall constitute a misdemeanor ansd, any person convicted of any such violation
shall be punished by a fine of not less than $5 nor more than $100, or by imprisonment in jail
for a period not exceeding thirty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The
magistrate court of the county shall ghave concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit court and
other courts of record (having criminal jurisdiction) of any misdemeanor offenses arising
under this article. The violatioen of any such rule which also constitutes the violation of any
state law or municipal ordinance may be prosecuted and punished as a violation of such
state law or municipal oLrdinance rather than under the provisions of this section. To enforce
any such rules and regulations, to protect and preserve all properties and facilities under the
control of the commi ssion and to preserve law and order in connection therewith, the
commission shall have plenary power and authority to provide in its bylaws procedures for
the appointment, supervision and discharge of one or more park police officers. Whenever
any such appointment is made, a copy of the order of appointment shall be maintained by
the commission for review by members of the public.
In any area under the jurisdiction and control of the commission, or in connection with any
properties or facilities under the jurisdiction and control of the commission, or in pursuit of
one or more individuals therefrom, any park police officer so appointed shall have all of the
power and authority which a regularly appointed deputy sheriff of such county has in
enforcing the criminal laws of the state. Notwithstanding any provisions of this code to the
contrary, park police officers appointed as aforesaid shall not be required to obtain a state
license to carry a weapon, as required by the provisions of section two, article seven,
chapter sixty-one of this code. When any such commission has purchased one or more
policies of public liability insurance providing the commission and its officers, agents and
employees insurance coverage for legal liability of said commission and its officers, agents
and employees for bodily injury, personal injury or damage (including, but not limited to,
false arrest and false imprisonment) and property damage, and affording said commission
and its officers, agents and employees insurance coverage against any and all legal liability
arising from, growing out of, by reason of or in any way connected with, any acts or
omissions of said commission, or its officers, agents or employees in the performance of
their official duties, and so long as the coverage aforesaid remains in full force and effect as
to such park police officers, then the bond specified in section five, article seven of said
chapter sixty-one shall not be required as to such park police officers.

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